In Nigeria today it’s time to say enough for the corruption, everyone like to have corruption free society yet we seldom thought about our own role in propagating corrupt practices. For instance, how many times we watch injustice and corrupt practices taking place right in front of us but we were defeated by the fear of vested interest and remain mute. We like to discuss it, yet we don’t condemn it actively. Most of us in civil service commit some forms of corruption by watching corruption taking place without even nay. Until everyone absolutely reject this act in its totality, followed by strong pledge to henceforth be free from any form of corruption and be liberated, then one can be considered delivered and then keep preaching what you practiced. This will have a far reaching consequences in transforming our societal values by restoring sincerity which is the…

In Nigeria today it’s time to say enough for the corruption, everyone like to have corruption free society yet we seldom thought about our own role in propagating corrupt practices. For instance, how many times we watch injustice and corrupt practices taking place right in front of us but we were defeated by the fear of vested interest and remain mute. We like to discuss it, yet we don’t condemn it actively. Most of us in civil service commit some forms of corruption by watching corruption taking place without even nay. Until everyone absolutely reject this act in its totality, followed by strong pledge to henceforth be free from any form of corruption and be liberated, then one can be considered delivered and then keep preaching what you practiced. This will have a far reaching consequences in transforming our societal values by restoring sincerity which is the bedrock for any meaningful development.

Myopically, most People regards corruption as only has to do with money, but is far more than that. One’s attitude portrays a lot about an individual level of transparency. Denying people’s right is form of corruption and if this is true, how many times people abscond from their responsibility in public services? But they will be the first to complain about corrupt politicians. Some people consider office as their property, by using office vehicles as family transport, in some cases it is converted into school vehicle of the officer’s children. Yet this people are the first to accuse other officers who embezzle as corrupt while ignoring or simply dismissing their case as meagre, because they only used the car to drop kids to the school.

Let’s digress a little bit to direct our search light on other dangerous aspect of corruption in our society today that involves religious leaders. How about the romance between the officers and the clergymen (Pastors and Malams)? The religious leaders are by far fuelling corruption more than any other group in Nigeria. It is simply a business of looting the looters, the religious leaders receives donations from the looters and pray for them so that God increases them in their looting business, again pray for their protection against any form of disgrace. They (religious leader) knew that these money are not legitimate yet they think that their prayers can purify it which is self-deceit. Certainly not all of them are involve in this dastardly act but a significant number of them are well involved.

Corruption in general comes with a heavy price, it leads to psychological trauma, and indeed a corrupt person knew intuitively that it is wrong to do it. Many people dismisses this thought at the beginning but is a lifelong weight to bear, as life approaches old age definitely the reflection comes to them in a way they will realize it. Even though they will wish they could find a way of reversing the atrocities committed but it is too late. Definitely, corrupt individuals are not smart yet they think they are at the time of committing the act. Unknown to them that one can even gain more wealth and luxuries legitimately by doing the right thing, it’s a matter of positive mind-set. Therefore be positive! Would you pledge to be corruption free? Take a few minutes and think about it.

Understanding corruption is the first step in fighting corruption – Transparency International

Corruption is defined as the abuse of entrusted power for private gain, it hurts everyone who depends on the integrity of people in a position of authority. Corruption is the state of mind and action that opposed transparency, it is the single monster that breed chaos, underdevelopment, poverty, and in fact all other negative situations that affect human being on this earth. A single corrupt mind can deny generations of simple basic needs of life. Corruption date back as long as human exist, the pressure from urge to accumulate material wealth, social status and ensure luxury pushes man to move beyond that which is just enough for individual’s survival. It is poison swallow by the perpetrator which have detrimental effect on man and his environment.

Many governments all over the world have devised mechanisms to checkmate this ill vice coupled with some Non-governmental Organisations (NGOs) such as Transparency International. In Nigeria for instance, corrupt practices has become so endemic in all aspects of livelihood such that it is difficult to differentiate the corrupt practices from the legitimate once.

Nigeria has to change the mode and methods of fighting corruption from targeting the office holders to where these people were being hatched, corruption fighting agency like the EFCC should focused on instilling attitudinal change in our institutions to reverse the already hundreds of thousands corrupt minds of graduate ready to be injected into the society who will soon be governors, minister, business managers, police, army, labour and even in anti-corruption agencies. It will be difficult curb the situation because the genesis of corruption starts from the institutions. Once the direction of fighting corruption remains from top down is like pruning of garden which you know for sure it will regenerate even stronger.

Let’s quickly x-ray our higher institutions to see it in multiple dimensions of corruptions that existed, students and lecturers are more of an enemies today than student teacher relationship. First the lecturers many of whom were the product of the same system, a system which don’t have respect for students, it don’t even care what moral character the students possess after graduation, students were prepared half-baked with no ethical conduct and regards for the society. Many parents have to pay heavily to the lecturers and school administrators in order to get grades and good qualifications for their children- what a sad and pathetic situation. Some may want to argue this point but before you do please check across other institutions in Nigeria.

The above scenario is not a standalone point, most institutions do not stick to the recruiting ethics of academic staff in our institutions, bribery, nepotism, favourism becomes the norms of the day whenever there exists a vacancy, this open ways to usher in unqualified individuals into the system and what they will practice is just the same thing as how they came into the system. This same attitude is transferred onto the students and because it is contagious, it immediately spread which will finally engulfed the whole system. The institutions congress are afraid to discuss this matter because it will affect somebody who has relation to a powerful figure in the system. For how long shall we continue to ignore these monstrous attitudes that are capable of destroying not only the system but our future and future generations.

The author of this week’s post, Dr Jess Drake, is no stranger to theups and downs of the PhD.Jess first wrote this post for me a couple of years ago… but it got lost in the not very well managed publication queue. When I discovered it lurking in my list I asked her to revisit it and I’m happy to say she agreed.

A lot has changed for Jess since she wrote this post. She completed her PhD a year ago, and since then has been doing a lot of reflection on her own and others PhD and research experiences. Mostly she tells me she wished that there were more resources and honest guidance before or during the PhD. Lukcy for us, now she’d like to share some of her thoughts and reflections in the hope that it might help people get through the downs of the PhD and onwards to the Ups! Although she is currently working as a Post Doc, she is looking forward to making new paths in science communication, research student support and education.

The first year of the Thesis is supposed to be about direction; working out your topic, doing literature reading, devising research plans etc. It is also the year you have the most flexibility. The first year is a great time to get your head around lots of things. Best of all, you can use it to prepare yourself for the journey ahead (when you may not have as much time to do stuff).

Working out what to focus on in this year is hard. However, after talking to many current and ex-research students, there were some recurring themes on things they did that helped them through or things they wish they did…

1. Socialise

That may sound like a no-brainer, but seriously it is important and fun! Get to know the other PhD students in your group, related and different areas, and in things you might just be curious about. These people will be your colleagues and future collaborators, and you are very likely to make life-long friends. You also create an important support-whinge-understanding network. You can start by checking out what your school/students in your department organise, and if there are any University Postgrad student events, or maybe even think about starting your own (Friday beers, film/paper groups etc).

2. Write (I mean it!)

It doesn’t matter if it is dot points, poorly thought out ideas, scribbles from paper notes… Whatever it is, start writing your chapters. Many people only give themselves 6 months to write, and it is so relieving to go back and see stuff already on paper. You will thank yourself for organising your literature, giving yourself some reminders or for thinking! Writing early may save you months of effort when you are strapped for time.

3. Routine

Doesn’t sound like something you really need to worry about, but getting into a good routine for thesis work will help you over the next few years. Play around with times you are most efficient and pick the hours that work best for you and stick to these every day. Treat it like a job. Getting this sorted early will help you in later years when there is so much chaos that you need something normal to fall back on. And don’t forget the power of good food, sleep and exercise — it is the key to a healthy brain and to a good thesis!

4. Take as many courses as you can!

Many students find they don’t have time in later years to learn skills that they know will help them with their research. If you think you might need to know something later on, do the course/online training/research it! This might be as simple as learning how to use Pivot tables in Excel or going on a 1 hour End Note courses (which I can tell you, made my life easier!). You may even think about undertaking effective communication and conflict resolution courses to work effectively with your supervisors.

5. Pick your supervision and make full use of your panel

Your first year can be used to see what your supervisors are like, what other skills you need on your panel and if you want to add or change your panel. I think this is one of the most important things you could do in your first year. Your Supervisor isn’t just someone who helps and shapes the 3+ years of the PhD, but they can also shape your future.

Some important things to consider include: how you and your supervisor work together; if your supervisors have a good background in your topic; are they flexible to learning/teaching styles that suit you; are they well published (important if you are doing PhD by publication); will they understand personal problems should they arise; what is their flexibility and timeliness like; what type of feedback do they give; are they well connected and well known in other research groups (opportunities post PhD). Shop around for supervision through students, papers and academics. Getting it right in Year 1 means helpful advice until you submit, and a bright future post PhD.